Glare control unit for headlights comprising focal means and remotely controlled stop plate



Aug. 19, 1952 G. J. DION 2,607,884 GLARE CONTROL UNIT FOR HEADLIGHTS COMPRISING FOCAL MEANS AND REMOTELY CONTROLLED STOP PLATE Filed March 27. 1948 G'ercr/a d 0/017 Patented Aug. 19, 1952 1 UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE i GLARE CONTROL UNIT FOR HEADLIGHTS COMPRISING FOCAL MEANS AND RE- MOTELY CONTROLLED STOP PLATE Gerald J. Dion, Buffalo, N. Y. Application March 27, 1948, Serial No. 17,509

This invention relates to an improved vehicular headlight.

At the present time virtually all motor vehicles are equipped at the factory with so-called sealed-beam headlights wherein the rear reflector portion and the front glass or lens portion are hermetically sealed to enclose suitable incandescent filaments which may be additionally enclosed in small glass bulbs or may be enclosed only by the sealed reflector and lens.

In such units the reflector is parabolic and the filaments 'arerdispose as close as possible to the principal focus of the reflector so that, theoreticallyat least, all rays whichpass to the reflector from the light source are. projected to the front glass. or lens element horizontally.

In'sealed beam units, as conventionally made, the front glass elements are divided into a considerablenumber of rectangular elements which are arranged in rows extending both horizontally and vertically across the face of .the glass. These rectangular elements comprise prisms for refracting the light rays from the reflector in a horizontal direction. Generally speaking, these prismelements are intended to leave the rays optically unaffected with respect to the vertical.

The degree .of. lateral refraction effected by the various prism elementsis not uniform or symmetrical. The arran'gementis an empirical one designed to give a pattern of illumination wherein certain :parts of the pattern are more brightly illuminate than others according to a predetermined desired distribution of the avail- I able light;

By my present invention I provide means whereby, a headlighting system is provided which gives forth substantially all of the light which is reflected and refracted in the theoretically desired manner but which screens out such'light as is misdirected by means of various optical irregularities, which'are, unavoidable as a matter ofpractical mass production;

9Claims. (o1. 240-46.,29)

By my present invention, I provide a combina tion of reflecting, refractingand light. screening means which affords an optimum distribution of the available light emanating from the source while, at the same time, light rays which would result in harmful glare light are obstructed in such manner as not to interfere with the general efliciency of transmission of useful light rays,

which rays, at the point where the glare light rays are obstructed, have a. novel focalcondidon-which cooperates to promote the facile blocking out of the objectionable rays which, if transmitted, would result'in, dangerous glare light. 1 g 1' i V 2 By virtue of the novel combination herein disclosed a beam pattern of rayswhich are all substantially horizontal but laterally divergent, with all glare light rays whichxwould ordinarily be projected above the horizontal-eliminated, is attained. An important feature is the fact that the elimination of glare rays is accomplished, in conjunction with the focusing which provid s the desired beam pattern, in such manner that a maximum of properly directed light is available within the confines'of the desired beam pattern.

In the drawing: 1

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through aheadlight embodying one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and c I Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the lens elements.

Throughout the several figures of the drawing like characters of reference denote like parts and the numeral I0 designates generally a sealed beam headlight unit of therkind presently used almost universally in vehicular headlights. Such units comprise, generally speaking, a parabolic reflector II and a front lens element l2 which is divided vertically and horizontally into a con: siderable number of rectangular areas, each of. which comprises an individual lateral light refracting element. An incandescent light source (not, shown) is disposed at the principal focus of the parabolic reflector ll. In some cases the light source comprises a completerincandescent lamp including the usual glass bulb and in others a filament is openly disposed in the hermetic casing formed by the reflector I l and the lens l2.

The lens I2 is outwardly convex as shown in Fig. 1 but this contour is without optical significanoe and the individual refracting elements which comprise the lens l2 are designedand in-' tended merely to transmitfilight without'any vertical deviation: Thus; rays which are refiected in a horizontal direction-from reflector I l are intended to emergefrom lcns [2 ma hori prises a, flat rear surface and a front surface These lens elementsiare alike in formation the principal focus of each,of its horizontal ex tending lens portions coincides; with the' rela ted principal focus of the horizontal portions orizones ll of lens 15. By virtue of this arrangement all truly horizontal rays emanating fromlens iii of the sealed beam unit project forwardly fronr the front lens element i6 horizontally. Since all r 7 horizontal cross-sections through lens elements 55 and [6 present parallel front and rear surfaces-the desired. lateral dispersion created by the retracting elements which comprise lens 7 I2 is' likewise uliaift'd by 1-3115: elements c l5 and i6 and the individualiightray's leaving the front surface of 11ers. element i 5 extend in the same horizontal direction as when they emanated from lensi2,'

While the sealed beam unit it is" designed, to project all-available useful light in a substantially'horizorital direction, this theoretical result is not attainable in actual practice; Apart from optical irregularities in the reflector H and the lens [2; particularly the latten sor'ne of the light radiating 'fronithe-lig-ht sou r'ce strikes directly against lens [2 in a radiating pattern without"- 24 which maybe variously arranged but which} byway or inustratm u runy operative construction, may comprisean opaque preferably nonrefiective meinber' wl iese r ar surface lies, as precisely as practicable, in the fined by the s veral reel:

Plate 24 is mounted for vertical movement by means of stationary-pins 25,- 26; and 212' Pins 25 and 26 are fixed to lugs 2B and zaproje'cting' from the in'terior of a 'generally annular casing 32' and in 21 may be fined directly to casing 32. Pins 25, 26, and 21 project slidably throughears 34, 35, and 36, respectively, formed at the margins V of vplate 24 and the latter may be biased to the upper position illustrated-inhigs. l and 2 by a compression coil spring 38 which acts between the bottom of casing'32 and ear 36. a

Plate 24 is' provided. with a vertical series of horizontal slots 49 through ll-each of which has its lower edge coincidentiwith its related fo'cus 20 at the rear face of plate 24. In the illustrated instance such lower edge is beveled forwardly so that the rear. edge of the slot provides a sharp cutoff directly beneath the focus 2'6. 1 I

The physical construction 7 of the headlight housing and supportisfg'enerally conventionaland is of no special importance in practicing the present invention. In a Fig. 1 the numeral 56 designates the forward portion of the front fendermof a vehicle where headlights are usually located and the ,numeral; 5|. designates a headlight: housing and supportloi generally conven focal plane dc f tion renter;

'matic elements beingadapte'd to p'as'sllight rays tional construction. The manner in which th sealed beam unit to is associated therewith is likewise entirely conventional and the annular casing 32 may be substituted for the usual escutcheon plate or trim ring which conventionally surrounds the sealed beam unit and encloses the beainadjustiiignieans crime headlight. Annular casing 52, in addition to 'mvablysupporting stop plate 24, supports lens elements I5 and I6 as at 53 and 54, respectively.

' Under some conditions it may be desirable to ate 2.4 ineffective whereby to permit eyen masterly focused rays to emerge from the deyic e such as in conditions of extreme darkness: 'Idth-is end means are provided for selectively shifting plate 24 downwardly against the resistance of spring 21, preferably to a degree where the horizontal center lines of slots to through i! are approximately in registry with the'jseveral feel 25].; Such. means mayWco'mpi-ise an electromagnet 56 which, in Fig. l, isQsliEmvri.v secured .to theheadlight housingfiil bylmeans'lof abracketfil; Y

A portion .of bracket; 5; L extends upwardlyas at 58 in Fig; 1 andisperforated toieceivethe rearend of. antoperatingv'arini fill;v The .m'edial portion of operatingwa rm fiil-extendsthrou'ghpanl opening in. a; further;.-upward,extension: 61 of bracket 5] tonber guided thereby and; the. forward; end. of arm 60.,engages,againstithellipperi side of a rearward extensioniii 3 'ovidedc atthempper; part iofistopplateilll $17,; I"

c Arm. $0 is normally iheld-rmma non-:operatiiig.

end of arm 6il ,to-1pivot.the latter irrial. clockwise direction, Armififiiis 'cprovidediwithrarl armature which rmovesvtowardtl ie core of? electromagnet 56 when the latter;islenei'gized thus presses.-

downwardlyragainst extension 53 of step" plate 24 to shiftlthe-latterlto non operating position.

While. a, specific c embodiment LOf l the principles of my invention. are shown and described hereinby waycof exampl'ei itlisto: be understood that scope, of. the inventionis iiotlimited otherwise" thanas defined; in the appended clairns;

What-islclaimediszI i.1

1'.v A vehicle headlightinglsystein comprising .a

. V sealed beam. vunit including a parabolic zrseetttr having .av light,sourcelsubstantially at its' prim cipal focusland .a.l'e'ns forwardlyithereof} "(1 lens. being. divided Jiiitma plurality of -par er. horizontal rows of prismatic elements, saidp s-= substantially .unaffectda'as as the vertieal but beingfladapt'e'd to disperse the ray passin 'T throughlateral-ly at various angles to prod e a predetermined lateral; ipatterii of light -distribii= e an vehicle headsat ng yst'em co'ni sealed beam'unit includinga parabolic "r'efi having a light source substantially at its pr cipal focus and a lens forwardly, thereof, said lens being divided into a plurality of parallel horizontal rows of prismatic elements, saidfpri'smatic elements being adapted to pass'ilight rays substantially unaffected as to the vertical but being adapted to disperse the rays passing therethrough laterally at various angles to produce a predeter- 7 zone along horizontal lines between each related pair of said zones, a stop plate for each zone having a horizontal upper edge disposed immediately beneath said focal line, and means for moving said stop plates dolwnwardly to inoperative position.

3. A vehicle headlighting system comprising a sealed beam unit including a parabolic reflector having a light source substantially at its principal focus and a lens forwardly thereof, said lens being divided into a plurality of parallel horizontal rows of prismatic elements, said prismatic elements being adapted to pass light rays substantially unaffected as to the vertical but being adapted to disperse the rays passing therethrough laterally at various angles to produce a predetermined lateral pattern of light distribution, a pair of spaced lenses forwardly of said sealed beam unit, each of said lenses being divided into horizontal zones coinciding with the horizontal rows of prismatic elements, each zone having light-converging curvature in vertical cross-section and optically neutral cross-section horizontally with the principal foci of the light converging portions of both lenses lying in a common plane between the lens elements, whereby the pair of lenses pass light unaffected laterally but focus the rays passing through each zone along horizontal lines between each related pair of said zones, and a stop plate for each zone having a horizontal upper edge disposed immediately beneath said focal line.

4. A vehicle headlighting system comprising a sealed beam unit including a parabolic reflector having a light source substantially at its prin-. cipal focus and a lens forwardly thereof, said lens being divided into a plurality of parallel horizontal rows of prismatic elements, said prismatic elements being adapted to pass light rays substantially unaffected as to the vertical but being adapted to disperse the rays passing therethrough laterally at various angles to produce a predetermined lateral pattern of light distribution, a :pair of spaced lenses forwardly of said sealed beam unit, each of said lenses being divided into horizontal zones coinciding with the horizontal rows of prismatic elements, each zone having light-converging curvature in vertical cross-section and optically neutral cross-section horizontally with the principal foci of the lightconverging portions of both lenses lying in a common plane between the lens elements, whereby the pair of lenses pass light unaffected laterally but focus the rays passing through each zone along horizontal lines between each related pair of said zones, a stop plate for each zone having a horizontal upper edge disposed immediately beneath a d foc l efand. tem i ly' pe ab e meansicrmo ng-said:s p-mews.- to i o r tiv a r fl ct en bin i n p edlt pro lightrays; substantially horizontally forwardly in a predetermined pattern of lateral dispersion, a pair of converging lenses of-substantially equal height forwardly of said sealed beam unit havingitheir principal, foci coincident in a vertical plane lying between said pair of lenses, whereby light rays from said sealed beam unit are refracted through a horizontal focal line in said plane, and a'stop plate having a horizontal upper edge disposed immediately beneath said focal line.

6. A vehicle headlighting system comprising a sealed beam unit including a light source and a reflector-lens combination adapted to project light rays substantially horizontally forwardly in a predetermined pattern of lateral dispersion, a pair of cylindrical lenses of substantially equal height forwardly of said sealed beam unit having their principal foci coincident in a vertical plane lying between said pair of lenses, whereby light rays from said sealed beam unit are refracted through a horizontal focal line in said plane, a stop plate having a horizontal upper edge disposed immediately beneath said focal line, and means for moving said stop plate downwardly to inoperative position.

7. A vehicle headlighting system comprising a parabolic reflector, a light source at the focus thereof, a lens element beyond said light source, said lens element having parallel surfaces as viewed in vertical cross-section whereby light passing therethrough is not refracted vertically, said lens element having refractive formations for diverging the rays emerging therefrom in a horizontal direction, and a cylindrical lens element beyond said first lens element whereby rays are directed toward a focal plane wherein the rays are dispersed alon a horizontal line at the focal plane, a second cylindrical lens of substantially the same height as the first mentioned cylindrical lens and disposed ahead of said focal plane with its principal focus in said plane, and a stop at said plane for preventing rays from passing said plane at any point below said horizontal line.

8. A vehicle headlighting system comprising a parabolic reflector, a light source at the focus thereof, a lens element beyond said light source, said lens element having parallel surfaces as viewed in vertical cross-section whereby light passing therethrough is not refracted vertically, said lens element being contoured to diverge rays emergin therefrom in a horizontal direction, and a converging lens element beyond said first lens element whereby rays are directed toward a focal plane wherein the rays are dispersed along a horizontal line at the-focal plane, a second converging lens element of substantially the same height as the first converging lens element and disposed ahead of said focal plane with its principal focus substantially at said plane, and a stop at said plane for preventing rays from passing said plane at any point below said horizontal line.

9. A vehicle headlighting system comprising a light source, a reflector therebehind, and lens means forwardly thereof, said reflector and said lens means being shaped to reflect and focus rays from said light source through a substan- 

